Industrial/Organizational Psychology Students

          Katelyn Reeves

 

Katelyn Reeves is a 5th-year student in the I/O Psychology Ph.D. Program. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a business minor from California State University, Fresno, in 2022. She received her M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana State University in 2025. Her research interests include AI, training and teaching practices, risk perceptions, sleep, and workplace safety. She loves walking in nature, gaming, watching shows, and crocheting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              Sydney Roux

 

Sydney Roux is a 5th-year graduate student in the IDEAL Lab. As a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Psychology and Organizational Communication Studies. As a student, Sydney has worked with topics such as leadership, trust, and intersectionality. She is inspired by real-world organizational problems and, as a professional, hopes to use her skills to improve employee experiences. In her free time, she enjoys working out, playing video games, or spending time with friends.

 

 

         Niloufar Dodangeh

Niloufar (Nilou) Dodangeh is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology working with Dr. Zhang. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Virginia, where she also completed a Master of Commerce with a concentration in Marketing and Management. Her research primarily focuses on personnel selection, with a particular interest in the use of AI and algorithmic decision-making in hiring.

 

            Kelsea Williams

 

Kelsea Williams is a 2nd-year Industrial-Organizational Psychology Ph.D. student on Dr. Cobb’s research team. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina State University in 2025, where she conducted field research in agricultural settings and contributed to the Law and Development Lab. Her research focuses on work-family dynamics among workers in occupations characterized by high work demands, with particular interest in blue-collar and healthcare populations. She is especially interested in how overwork, long and irregular work hours, and demanding work conditions contribute to work-family conflict and employee well-being, as well as organizational practices that promote healthier and more sustainable work experiences. Outside of academics, Kelsea enjoys playing golf, participating in her church community, and spending time with her pet, Gizmo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Samantha Kaczmarek

 

Samantha Kaczmarek (she/her) is a 2nd-year graduate student in Dr. Burke's IDEAL Lab. She grew up in Romeoville, Illinois, and graduated from North Central College with a B.A. in Psychology, Criminology, and Sociology. Her research interests include technology in the workplace and hiring procedures, particularly in the criminal justice professions. She is especially interested in how hiring practices can be improved to support fairness, effectiveness, and organizational well-being. In her free time, Samantha enjoys collecting vinyl records, crocheting, and watching Formula 1 races.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Mekhi Batiste

 

Mekhi Batiste is a 1st-year graduate student in the IDEAL Lab from Lacombe, Louisiana. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and a minor in Communication. His research interests include the psychological contracts, remote, hybrid, and traditional work settings, particularly how those two concepts intersect and influence employee engagement and turnover intentions. His goals are to explore strategies to support access to advancement opportunities for underrepresented populations. In his free time, he likes spending time with friends, making graphics, and watching shows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

                Ava Rettig

 

Ava Rettig (she/her) is a 1st-year I-O Psychology doctoral student in Dr. Cobb’s BOSS Lab. She received her B.S. in Psychology from LSU in 2025, where she assisted in projects on family-supportive supervisor behaviors and job-level moderators of well-being in employees with ADHD. Her research interests include occupational health psychology, work-family issues, and chronic health conditions in the workplace. In her free time, Ava enjoys making art, trying new recipes, reading, listening to music, and rock climbing.